Which fast wide-field refractor to get to piggyback on my C11 for AP?

[aeneas]

Hi all,

I have just bought a brand new C11 EDGEHD. This is a big 2800mm f/10 SCT, which I intend to equip with a 0,7x reducer on one side and a Starizona Hyperstar on the other; with starizona - based on their claims, this would turn the C11 into a very fast f/1.9 with ~500mm.

Many have warned me that C11 will be tough to get into AP, which I fully appreciate and expect much learning ahead.

However, thinking about Starizona's Hyperstar: this set-up will prevent me to use my Off-Axis Guider and will need to switch to a guide scope if I want to have autoguiding...

 

One idea that has been brewing in my mind: what if, instead of a small, cheap, crappy guide scope, I instead get a decent small refractor, such as a Sharpstar 61EDPH II or wait a bit for William Optics' RedCat 71mm (I hear it's coming soon). This could serve as a great fast small refractor for AP to be mounted on top of the C11 so I can take photos or, alternatively, can use it as a guide-scope when attaching the Starizona Hyperstar. Would this make sense? Would you advise on any particular scope as a "piggy-back" option for the C11 in this way?

 

Which aperture (60mm / 70mm / 80mm) would be a best fit as a partner to C11, considering that C11 will be also equipped with a 0,7x reducer and a Hyperstar?

 

Many thanks!